Sending letters to troops

Feb. 10, 2005
By Jenna Stevens
Staff Writer

Last fall, students from all over campus joined together in an effort to help the troops serving in Iraq by participating in a letters and spaghetti night. Anyone wishing to help out gathered together for a spaghetti dinner at Davis Hall and then wrote Christmas cards to members of the Marine Corps serving overseas.

Many of the students who participated in the original project decided they wanted to try again and they set up a pen-pal program with Marines in Iraq. The idea of this program is to keep the troops up to date on what is happening at home and to show them that students support their efforts and wish them well.

Davis Hall director Jil Gates has established a contact in Iraq who has agreed to distribute the letters to those individuals who promise to write back and maintain correspondence. Letters from home are the only sources of contact with the outside world these men and women have and they help to serve as a reminder of what it is they are fighting for. These letters are a way to cope with being away from home, and a letter from a pen-pal may be the only mail some of the soldiers receive.

Students' letters should include some basic information such as their names, majors, hobbies and any questions for the soldiers. Students may also want to include information about important events occurring in the United States, sports statistics and what is popular in mainstream culture today.

The letters generally take about two weeks to get to Iraq and two weeks to return so students can expect their first response about a month after writing the letter. All letters are due to Gates no later than Feb. 28, and should include a return address.

All of the information is secured to ensure student safety and confidentiality in this project. Letters can be dropped off at the hall director's office in the basement of Davis Hall or given to any of the resident advisors in the building. Questions can be directed to Gates at x6439 or GatesJilian@sau.edu.

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